New R320 Owner - tires and wheels advice please
10-22-2012, 12:06 AM
#1
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R320 CDI Passat TDI
New R320 Owner - tires and wheels advice please
Good evening,
I am new to the forum having just purchased a 2008 R320 CDI. I am in Canada but I bought the car in Portland. Now I would like to buy a set of winter wheels and tires. One shop told me I needed to buy another set of senors and the other said the sensors are in the ABS so no need to buy sensors with new tires and wheels. Does anyone know?
Also, any advice on where to buy a winter tire and wheel package would be appreciated. (Canada or US is fine)
Finally, one of the shops said I should drop the wheel size to 17", is this a good idea or bad one given the stock set is 18".
Thanks so much for your time,
Chad
I am new to the forum having just purchased a 2008 R320 CDI. I am in Canada but I bought the car in Portland. Now I would like to buy a set of winter wheels and tires. One shop told me I needed to buy another set of senors and the other said the sensors are in the ABS so no need to buy sensors with new tires and wheels. Does anyone know?
Also, any advice on where to buy a winter tire and wheel package would be appreciated. (Canada or US is fine)
Finally, one of the shops said I should drop the wheel size to 17", is this a good idea or bad one given the stock set is 18".
Thanks so much for your time,
Chad
10-26-2012, 11:43 PM
#2
Super Member
[edited based on new info]
My 2006 has TPMS is in the ABS ring, therefore no worries when swapping rims. Nice feature.
My suggestion is to pick up a set of winters off eBay in the recommended size 255/55/18 for the stock wheels. Looking at ~800. For summer months I would pick up an OEM set of AMG wheels and tires in 21"... Tire size is 265/40/21. They look fantastic, also gets rid of the water bed on wheels feel of the stock wheels/suspension.
Just my 2c
My 2006 has TPMS is in the ABS ring, therefore no worries when swapping rims. Nice feature.
My suggestion is to pick up a set of winters off eBay in the recommended size 255/55/18 for the stock wheels. Looking at ~800. For summer months I would pick up an OEM set of AMG wheels and tires in 21"... Tire size is 265/40/21. They look fantastic, also gets rid of the water bed on wheels feel of the stock wheels/suspension.
Just my 2c
Last edited by 155; 10-27-2012 at 12:42 PM.
10-27-2012, 10:10 AM
#3
Super Member
My 08 R350 do have TPMS sensors.
When I bought my OEM MB 20" rims, I had to buy TPMS sensors ($70.00) each. Wheels were installed by my local dealer.
Dealer wants $250 each.
When I bought my OEM MB 20" rims, I had to buy TPMS sensors ($70.00) each. Wheels were installed by my local dealer.
Dealer wants $250 each.
10-28-2012, 07:52 AM
#4
Super Member
I believe for 2008 the R Class (as well as most other MB) had different systems for Canada and USA. Canada used a ABS wheel rotation based systsem while the US used the valve stem TPMS sensors. You can check via your dash system/check the owners manual.
Note that the R class has a different offset than the ML class. Many aftermarket wheel vendors will try to sell you wheels intended for the ML class. The R Class OEM wheel is 8j 18H2 offset 67 mm. The ML 8 inch rim for that year has 60mm offset. While that is only 7 mm (about 5/16th of an inch) and would normally be fine, but there is also an ML Class EOM 8.5 inch rim size with 55mm offset and and they will extend as much as 1/2 inch further out.( I know because I purchased them before I did my homework!)
There is a handy wheel offset calculator here
http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp
As for 17 inch rims, what they mean is for you to use a smaller rim, with a taller aspect ration tire allowing you to run a narrower treadwidth tire. Supposedly for better "bite" in snow. This is called "minus one" rim size. With a 17 inch rim you could run 235-65-17 tires.
I run normal size tires and they are great in winter.
As for Used rims... make sure you have a 1 week return policy. Get them checked for runout! I paid $800 for a nice set of aftermarked wheels and winter tires only to have on wheel wobble on me. I am looking for a place to have it straghtened.
I like the suggestion of sticking to stock rims for winter and getting nice bigger rims next summer!
Note that the R class has a different offset than the ML class. Many aftermarket wheel vendors will try to sell you wheels intended for the ML class. The R Class OEM wheel is 8j 18H2 offset 67 mm. The ML 8 inch rim for that year has 60mm offset. While that is only 7 mm (about 5/16th of an inch) and would normally be fine, but there is also an ML Class EOM 8.5 inch rim size with 55mm offset and and they will extend as much as 1/2 inch further out.( I know because I purchased them before I did my homework!)
There is a handy wheel offset calculator here
http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp
As for 17 inch rims, what they mean is for you to use a smaller rim, with a taller aspect ration tire allowing you to run a narrower treadwidth tire. Supposedly for better "bite" in snow. This is called "minus one" rim size. With a 17 inch rim you could run 235-65-17 tires.
I run normal size tires and they are great in winter.
As for Used rims... make sure you have a 1 week return policy. Get them checked for runout! I paid $800 for a nice set of aftermarked wheels and winter tires only to have on wheel wobble on me. I am looking for a place to have it straghtened.
I like the suggestion of sticking to stock rims for winter and getting nice bigger rims next summer!
Last edited by efzauner; 10-28-2012 at 07:54 AM.
10-28-2012, 02:07 PM
#5
MBWorld Fanatic!
Did you get my PM?
The R class in general has a very conservative offset. You can bump it out about 20mm in the rear and 13mm in the front to get it nice and flush.
The R class in general has a very conservative offset. You can bump it out about 20mm in the rear and 13mm in the front to get it nice and flush.
10-28-2012, 10:30 PM
#6
Super Member
TPMS sensors are a complete rip off. They are very simple devices made by the millions. Should cost maybe $20 retail. But there are only 2 or so manufacturers because of all the patent protection. $250 from mercedes is ..well... you know..
10-31-2012, 09:59 AM
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2006 R350. 2005 C230K
Island, welcome to the R-world.
On tires, I used to buy from TieRack, but this time they do not have the tires I want so I bumped into TireBuyer.com FREE SHIPPING and cheaper than TireRack. I rang them on Saturday to verify stock on hand, they even have a PERSON to pick up the call. Ordered on Saturday, shipped Monday (from their warehouse in WA), arrived Tuesday. From now on I will check them out when I need rubber. As for winter driving, I am a believer that narrower is better to cut thru snow. All my winter set up are -1. I don't care much about the look of the car during winter. The rubber I bought from TireBuyer.com is General Altimax Artic - strongly recommended to me by my local MB dealer - size is 235/65/17, $138@ to my door. Check out their test result on the web.
On wheels: I have been shopping for a set of used oem 17" (summer is 18", but I want -1 for winter), I finally got lucky, a member here was setting a set which was take off from the same model year as mine..... I rate them 9.99 almost as perfect as new. https://mbworld.org/forums/wheels-ti...um-wheels.html
BTW, as for offset, for my 06 R350 it is 56mm, same ET is stamped on the 17" wheels I just bought. May be different for 320?
You can get a new set up with aftermarket wheels.. a 17" package would be in the range of $1500, TPMS not included. My total out of pocket is $800, with "used" but oem wheels.
Good luck shopping.
On tires, I used to buy from TieRack, but this time they do not have the tires I want so I bumped into TireBuyer.com FREE SHIPPING and cheaper than TireRack. I rang them on Saturday to verify stock on hand, they even have a PERSON to pick up the call. Ordered on Saturday, shipped Monday (from their warehouse in WA), arrived Tuesday. From now on I will check them out when I need rubber. As for winter driving, I am a believer that narrower is better to cut thru snow. All my winter set up are -1. I don't care much about the look of the car during winter. The rubber I bought from TireBuyer.com is General Altimax Artic - strongly recommended to me by my local MB dealer - size is 235/65/17, $138@ to my door. Check out their test result on the web.
On wheels: I have been shopping for a set of used oem 17" (summer is 18", but I want -1 for winter), I finally got lucky, a member here was setting a set which was take off from the same model year as mine..... I rate them 9.99 almost as perfect as new. https://mbworld.org/forums/wheels-ti...um-wheels.html
BTW, as for offset, for my 06 R350 it is 56mm, same ET is stamped on the 17" wheels I just bought. May be different for 320?
You can get a new set up with aftermarket wheels.. a 17" package would be in the range of $1500, TPMS not included. My total out of pocket is $800, with "used" but oem wheels.
Good luck shopping.
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12-29-2012, 11:42 AM
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R500 + SLK55 AMG
I just bought and installed a set of 17" wheels and transferred an almost new set of 235/65/R17 Blizzak DM-V1 snow tires from my Pacifica. The R500 summer wheels are the optional 10 spoke Mercedes wheels. I've had the R500 out in one snowstorm to date and the 235 Blizzaks seem to do well on the car.
As for TPMS, I bagged the sensors. I buy winter wheels and tires for all our cars except the AMG coupe which is a death trap in snow no matter what tires are on it. I have never sprung for the TPMS sensors on any of them. The price of sensors just seems outrageous. In all our cars the only impact is a light on the dashboard indicating a TPMS fault. The R500 actually flashes a message that the sensors aren't present. Smart! I don't mind losing the TPMS capability during winter as I check my tires anyway with drastic temperature changes and all our car have either the Mercedes air pump or an aftermarket pump on board as well as a high quality tire pressure gauge.
As for TPMS, I bagged the sensors. I buy winter wheels and tires for all our cars except the AMG coupe which is a death trap in snow no matter what tires are on it. I have never sprung for the TPMS sensors on any of them. The price of sensors just seems outrageous. In all our cars the only impact is a light on the dashboard indicating a TPMS fault. The R500 actually flashes a message that the sensors aren't present. Smart! I don't mind losing the TPMS capability during winter as I check my tires anyway with drastic temperature changes and all our car have either the Mercedes air pump or an aftermarket pump on board as well as a high quality tire pressure gauge.
